# \-Business Cards Guidelines- **URL:** \ **Category:** design\ **Created:** [July 28, 2004, 8:19pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148 "2004-07-28T20:19:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![berkoWitZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9bd4f/32.png) [@berkoWitZ](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/berkoWitZ)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 8:19pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148/1 "2004-07-28T20:19:36Z")
Hi, Im planning to make a business card but I honestly dont know where to start, I know a couple of things like use a resolution of 300 dpi and in CMYK mode but I dont know for example what is the recommended font size and font type (I try some but looks terrible dont know why), I want to hear some tips or recommendations to make one, Im going to be very grateful for any help, thanks! šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148/2 "2004-07-28T20:37:47Z")
just try to keep your font small, Iā€™ve seen some UGLY buisness cards, most of them had crazyhuge fontsā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 8:38pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148/3 "2004-07-28T20:38:35Z")
a big part of how you design it is your budgetā€¦ stock, ink and color choices all effect the look and the price in a big way. What kind of budget are you on? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 8:41pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148/4 "2004-07-28T20:41:18Z")
remember the almighty bleed area that normally should be 1/8". Crop marks is another term you should get acquainted with. And before designing go talk to your printer to see their prerequisites. Not all printers use the same equipment. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 9:00pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148/5 "2004-07-28T21:00:14Z")
I want to design something similar to [www.andreoni.com](http://www.andreoni.com) , those cards are cool but they requiere a lot of colors and stuff, but the budget is not a problem, its a card for a web design business, it has to impress, not the regular white cards everybody givesā€¦ what is a good font for this kind of job? > remember the almighty bleed area that normally should be 1/8". Crop marks is another term you should get acquainted with. And before designing go talk to your printer to see their prerequisites. Not all printers use the same equipment Im not familiar with those terms, IĀ“ll inform me more šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 9:03pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148/6 "2004-07-28T21:03:21Z")
I would avoid those business cards like the plague. Especially for a design company. Something that conveys well and appealing will do a lot better. Grab you a print design book and read through. Save yourself a bunch of trouble on re-works. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148/7 "2004-07-28T21:14:19Z")
U think exactly like my brother 3D šŸ˜› I guess Im going to make it clean and simple thenā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 9:21pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148/8 "2004-07-28T21:21:34Z")
I disagree with DDD. What about those flashy cards isnā€™t appealing? I bet the people handing them out get a lot of compliments and business because of them. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 9:27pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148/9 "2004-07-28T21:27:20Z")
im with DDD. those cards look too much like the crap you get put on your car in parking lots. if people are like me they think its some junky ad and not a business card. you want it to be clean so the user can see exactly what they want (NAME, NUMBER, WEBSITE, ADDRESS) if they cant find those readily on the card theyā€™re going to throw it out. the cards on that website are more along the lines of a broucheur than a business card. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148/10 "2004-07-28T21:29:20Z")
I should re-phrase. If you run a magazine or a car dealership. Then those cards are probably right up your alley. But for a design company I think they do not convey well. So those kind of cards do have a place in societyā€¦:lol: ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 9:36pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148/11 "2004-07-28T21:36:14Z")
argh, Im in a dilemma, I want to make something different, like andreoniĀ“s, if someone give me a bcard like one of those I dont think it twice to say that businness must be good, but I dont know, Im kinda agree in what 3D said, they are too flashy for a design companyā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 9:50pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148/12 "2004-07-28T21:50:49Z")
you can download a template from their site so you meet the bleed and margin reqs. your font is part of your design, there is no ā€œrightā€ font. Whatever suits the style you are trying to achieve. Just be sure it is legible and clear. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148/13 "2004-07-28T21:52:03Z")
I still disagree with DDD. If anything Iā€™ve always believed that graphic designers cards should be the flashiest of 'em all. Strut your stuff and show your skills. Iā€™m never impressed by a couple of wavy lines or the simplicity of lime green text on a white background. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 9:54pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148/14 "2004-07-28T21:54:31Z")
I guess IĀ“ll decide by making two cards and posting a poll, the old fashioned way :P, I agree with CG but the people opinion is what it counts šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 9:59pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148/15 "2004-07-28T21:59:52Z")
I dont like it for a design company (or any COMPANY for that matter)ā€¦ reasons being: too hard to quickly locate information. for a design co. it kind of solidifies your style right off the batā€¦someone may look at it and go ā€œhmmm thats just not the look Id be going for, Iā€™ll contact someone elseā€. Even though as a designer you can please any sense of style. It doesnt look professional, it looks cheesy and like someone said it looks like a flyer. something with a professional feel is usually simple, clean, offers quick/concise information, etc. Sticking to the above ideas I think a designer can still strut his stuff - infact I think it is harder to design the above instead of those other ones - ie its easy to throw a buch of cool looking crap on a page. Metal textures + drop shadow + light reflection = cool card :-/ Peace ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 10:21pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148/16 "2004-07-28T22:21:36Z")
> something with a professional feel is usually simple, clean, offers quick/concise information, etc. agree > too hard to quickly locate information. disagree, its a business card not the bible (but IĀ“ve seen some very bad designs :sure: ) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 10:40pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148/17 "2004-07-28T22:40:22Z")
A b.card is an extension of your hand shake and will ofter precede meeting you. meaning there is alot at stake when designing a card. I believe in going against the grain. But there are reasons why most people do what they do. For a design company I would go clean and crisp. Those cards look more like flyers or promotional materials. But the choice is yours. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 12:40am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148/18 "2004-07-29T00:40:19Z")
> [@berkoWitZ](#): > > disagree, its a business card not the bible (but IĀ“ve seen some very bad designs :sure: ) :lol: DDD how do you shake hands? I like to grab on real tight and give a good couple of shakes. I also like to mix it up a bit with the following: Option 1 a.k.a.ā€œThe Your arm looks so tasty I think I might bite it shakeā€: Procedure: shake with one hand, place other hand on elbow squeezing gently but firmly Option 2 a.k.a ā€œThe Hand Sandwichā€ : Procedure: shake with one hand, place other hand on top of their hand šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148/19 "2004-07-29T00:55:13Z")
lolā€¦when I see those kind of business cards I think sleezy gigolo. They just seem so gaudy and purpose-less ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 12:59am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148/20 "2004-07-29T00:59:23Z")
Well first offā€¦ donā€™t try to design something that youā€™re not good at. If you canā€™t do it good, and you canā€™t do it rightā€¦ DONā€™T DO IT. Most ppl like the more simple business cards, empty space is MUCH more appealing than a big ol graphical card. Why is it more appealing? Because it has a focal point. Because there is less confusion, oh yeaā€¦ it looks cool whoo hoo. Those business cards on that link are way to gaudy and have way to much info on them. Although I did like that airforce one, looked neato. Your card is an extension of your personality. 1/8 - 1/4" bleed is applicable to everything that has to do w/ offset printing. What that means is if you have a 3 x 2 card or something you need to make a 3 1/8 x 2 1/8 card and then set your guides to 3 x 2. The reason for the bleed is so when your stuff is print and cut, it doesnā€™t leave a white line on the edges. Crop marks are the guides to which the printer will cut your graphic. 300dpi? BAH design in Illustrator [Next page](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/business-cards-guidelines/59148.md?page=2)